US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said multiple countries had asked Washington for assistance in moving ships that were locked up in the strait. President Trump described the stranded vessels as neutral and innocent bystanders caught in the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
The US president announced a mission called “Project Freedom,” which will involve escorting stranded ships through the strategic waterway starting Monday morning, Middle East time. He said he had instructed his representatives to inform Iranian officials that the US will use its best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the strait.
Reports indicate that fresh attacks have underscored the risks facing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s trade in oil and natural gas typically passes. The waterway is also a critical route for fertiliser, badly needed by farmers around the world.
Also Read: Over 650 Ships Lift Products from Dangote Refinery as Nigeria Emerges Regional Export Leader
The effort to free the stranded ships represents a significant escalation of US maritime activity in the Middle East. President Trump said he had told representatives to inform Iranian officials of the planned operation ahead of time. The development comes as the war between the US and Iran has already entered its third month, with no current resolution in sight.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.